Mortar-bomb.



F. L. NICHOLS.

MORTARBOMB. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5,19l8.

1,809, 743. A Patented July 15, 1919.

. plosive byl a time fuse, or if preferred upon the implement at itsobjective.

citizen of the United siding at Stamford,

FRANK L. NIcHoLs, or s'rmronn, NEcTIoUT,

OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATION lltll'll'lWIflIONS COMPANY, IN C. OF DELAWARE.

incontrarti;onus.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. N1CHoLs,'a

States of America, rein the county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mortar- Bombs, of whichthe following is a speci# ication.

The invention relates specifically to a shell, or bomb, which has to dowith a mortar, and is intended'more particularly for ranges' extendingfrom 1800 to 2500 yards and it is provided with means for propelling 'itfrom the mortar With additional means for functioning the high eximpact,t at is to say, upon the arrival of The invention is particularlyadapted to, and is intended to Vbe used in connection with, a mortarwhich is entirely closed at the breech, the missile being inserted atthe muzzle by the operator and permitted to or mortar being' drop bygravity; the gun, at an angle of 45 degrees; the missile, or theinitiating element of its propelling unit, functions the instant itreaches the bottom of the bore, thus eliminating any trigger or otherlfiring mechanism.

In other words, it is used in connection with-a closed mortar having nobreech mechanisrn and its firing and propelling unit is adapted tofunction automatically and start to leave the mortar absolutely at theinstant it reaches the end of its inward travel.

It is, as before intimated, provided With ed ammunition, one unit ofsaid ammunition being devoted to the propelling charge, and the otherunit of the ammunition being devoted to the bursting char e.

The'shell, or bomb, is likewise particularly designed to be used inconnection with a special form of mortar, which is the subject matter ofanother application filed concurrently herewith and serially numbered-243431, said mortar having a major and minor bore with a taperedconnecting wall;

i the shell 0r bomb, herein shown, described and claimed is also partlydescribed in the aforesaid application, but itis fully described andclaimed herein.

The shell, or bomb, is provided with an annular gas check which as themissile is proceeding from the muzzle to the breech ofthe bore remainsquiescent, but immedi- 'Spe'cication of Letters Patent. Application ledJuly 5, 1918. Serial N o. 243,430.

employ for my mum weight of gun j Patented July 15, 1919.

ately upon the return tI- ip outwardly it ae laterally7 and shell andcompels vthe latter toassume the entlre blow ofthe explosive; theseoperations, and the means I have devised to carry seals the a1r passagearound the them into effect, complete the mainpart of m presentinvention.

n carrying my invention into" effect, I propelling charge a vpaper shellcartrid e of the commercial type and I load it with a igh grade ofsmokeless powder,

and I so place and arrange -it in connection with the shell, thatwhen'the latter leaves the mortar, it carries the cartridgeshell with itthus cleaning the gun automatically `in every instance.

lso in carrying my invention into effect, I employ the explosion fromthe propelling charge to ignite the time fuse of the fragmentizing orbursting charge, thus making a continuous and automatic arrangement.

For the purpose of more specifically explaining my invention, I willdescribe it in connection with the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this'specification and in which Figure lrepresents alongitudinal sec- 'tion of the inner end of a gun or what I will Eig.iis a detail View O'f the gas check hereinafter described.

In order to explain my invention in the simplest way, I will proceed torst describe the mortar which represents the preferable form of gun toemploy it with; that is to achieve the best results and moreparticularly to secure the longest range with a miniand appurtenances.

At 10 I show a gun barrel and at 11 a breech reinforce: 12 is a breechbase having an exterior screw thread 13 which intermeshes withcomplementary screw portions 14 on the gun barrel and reinforce, lockingand securing;A all these 'parts together in a simple manner.

At l5 is a supplementary inserted barrel provided with a taperingportion 16: in this,

' manner ded with three Y of the shell proper is bottom,

the mortar is provi dimensioned bores; a major bore,

or the bore vof. the barrel 10; a minor boreor the bore of -the inserttube 1 5 and a slanting bore consisting of the tapered portion 16,extending between and connecting the ma] bores.

The body of the projectile containing tle sui high explosive is shown at17; it has a able filler plug 18: extendingirom the base teg'rallytherewith. This tubeconstitutes the receptacle for the expelling unit,which f latter consists of a commercial cartridge, the tube being of asize and snugly. This cartridge is provided -with a suitable explosiveand expelling charge and consists of a container formed of paper sides20, a metal base 21 vandit is furnished withv a primer 22. The tube 19being opened at the the cartridge is inserted therein and fortransportation and loading purposes is retained in position by thespring catch 23.

-provides the necessary-lI space The t'ube 1 9 is provided with recessesor "portals 24 preferably four in number.

are openings in the' walls lof theL tube 19, f and they open A Y berv 25formed between the walls of the tube out `into the explosive cham- 1 9tand the bore of the mortar.- This-chamber for the expansion of thegases. Y-

Atl 26 is shown afprimer striking pin. As the proj ectile descends thefrom the impact of the implement causes A the requisite'pen'etrationVand initiates the vside the band and avenues firing' operationof the-expelling unit.

At 27 I show the annular provide distribute the gases evenly around 4and-inthe explosive chamber movement vof said gases At 31 are radialllformed in the shell bo y 17 to keep the missileto a central position in-the bore; 32 are wings formed -on the exterior of the ex'- tension 19;they provide wings 'for the missile in Hight and at their lower ends asshown at 33, they are extended laterally to come against the walls ofthe minor bore. .At 34 is shown the metal head of the expelling chargecontainer and at 35vis an annular shoulder on the interior Vof theextension 1.9 .which snugly receives and cena tube 19 formed in-.

shape 4to take it may `shown a v troducean impact proposition yof anyap-j A blow resulting band positionedY around and recessed inthe-base'of the shell outwardly against the bore turn- 'ing on the outeredge which will be held by pelling charge and d tov 30 'extending-to 25"to facilitate 'the Y to the channels 29.-

extending guides -vagainst the successivel the mortar and instant y tersthe outer that is to say, the paper cartridge, the said' paper.cartridge being adapted to' move up shoulder 35. It will be seen alsothat I provide/spaces 37 between the wall of the paper shell andthefwall of charge functions; the wad or closing memberof the cartridgeing apoint 39, Isaid plug 40 beingscrewA threaded at 41 into the endofthe explosive container,

'and over the slanting surf-ace 36 to .reach the the extension 19; thisfacilitates the'breakingof the-paper' shell.

wall when the expelling vis shown at 38 anda penetrating plug havbase ofthehigh explosive shell and having an entrance 42 pro 'i viding anavenue to any suitablefuse 43 and iring unit for the high explosive;this phase of the construction, I will. 4not 1go intofas any.

be employed, and in fact, thou h I have timeunit, I may ifipre erredinproved and available form.

By referring to Fi just4 reached theend o and the striking point 26is'entermg the primer-.22 to function: in areshown after thefunctioning, tile is leaving metal walls of the cartridge having beenbroken, 'mutilated and distendedv laterally are locked inthe walls ofthe Iextension 19;'

v' .a pocket or ledge 44 being further providedV if desired to emphasizethis situation.

From the foregoingit will be seen that I have show-n and described animplement which embraces means for providing a rapid and unimpededdescent of the projectileiin the mortar from the muzzle 4functioning theexpelling charge by impact of the projectile in the breech of themortar..

Secondly, I have shown a meansfor in-. stantly effecting a upon, d by,the

functioningof the exbefore the inertia of the shelll is-overcome, thisclosure being effected Fig. 2, theparts 1 the projec-z the mortar andthe paper and -assemblage andA 'arrangement of parts 1, theprojectilehas its downw-ard'descent to the breech by y j i. means of a peripheralchannel and means for closure of this channel Y Viio 1 by an expandiblemember: specifically `a 'I metal band surroundingpthe base of the shellwhich moves over to, gagainst, and all around, the-bore of the mortar:this conand utilizes all in gases.

hirdly, pandible band follows up and registers adjusts itself thereto asit moves outwardly through the mortar, thus maintaining the gas checkintact and unimpaired at. all

imes. Fourthly, I have disclosed means vfor posi- Ihave also shown thatthis Vex-i; i 'i 1 l 5 -stitutes a gas check and eectually imprisons sof the explosive and expand- 1 enlarged bores of and automaticallytioning fixedammunition both as to the exwell as to thehigh lexprovideda connection peiling charge, as plosiveh and have Ibase of the mortar. j

Fifthly, I have also shown` a. projectile provided with-a high explosiveenvelop\of slightlyyless 'diameter than the-major bore with radiallyextending guides formed Y' integrally therewith and coJextensive with lance', portals to permit the lateral said major bore.

Sixthly, I- have also shown that the main A body of the projectile isformed with anintegral inner extension of less diameter providing areceptacle for the expelling unit, an annular chamber surrounding it forthe explosivev gases, wings on its sides for .guidfunction- Ing of theexplosive means for :locking the explosive container tothe projectile.

Having .thus described my invention, the

following is what I claim as new and useful therein and desire to secureby Letters Patanair cushion in its descent into the mortar instantlyeffecting a.

l. In a projectile, peripheralchannel its mortar from the upon and by,ling charge. l

2. .A projectile having means for avoiding from the muzzle incombination with an expandible member providinga gas check.

In a projectile, means for'avoiding an air cushion in its descent intothe mortar from the muzzle, and means for providing L a gas check uponthe functioning of the i l expelling charge. 'f l0 4. In a projectile,means for avoiding an air cushion in its descent into the mortar fromthe muzzle, an annular expandible mlemfber positioned on its peripheryand n means for forcing the member against the severa1 bores by thefunctioning of the expelling charge.

5. T-he combinationin a projectile, of a main body having a diametersmaller than its cordinating mortar bore and radially the incontainer,together with tions the container breaks extending guides of the 'samediameter as said mortar bore.

6. In a projectile, main body,

' and wings formed upon the exterior tube for guiding the projectile. ll In a projectile, the combination of a main bod a rearwardly extendingtube providing a receptacle for the expelling charge container, andmeans in said tube for locking the 4charge container tothe tube andinsuring its pelling charge functions In a projectile, main body, anexpelling charge, a container for said charge formed of paper and metal,and means whereby when the charge funcand becomes interlocked with theprojectile.

9. The combination with a projectile, of an expelling charge, acontainer therefor and means for locking the container to the projectileafter the ignition of the charge, .but .before the inertia of theprojectile has been overcome.

10. The combination, in a muzzle loading projectile, of a shell body, animpact expelling unit, a gas check retained in an inoperative positionduring the inward travel of the shell, and means, operating at the startof the outward travel of the shell, for forcing the gas check intooperative position.

11. The combination, in a projectile, of a shell body, an expellingcharge', means for securing the expelling charge in the projectile andmeans for functioning the charge and expelling both the projectile andthe of the the combination o f al a tube of smaller diameterpro-- vidmg.a receptacle for the expelling unit, j;

departure therein when the ex,-V

the combination of a charge securing means upon a gravity blow Y tainerupon a gravity rblow of the projectile at the base of its cordinatingmortar bore.

FRANK L. NICHOLS.

